This black-smith produced machine was thought to be one of the first bicycles manufactured in the Kohout factory. This was confirmed by the fact that it was donated to the Czech Technical Museum in Prague by the members of the Czech Velocipedist Club in 1913, but now we known that this machine was not made in the Kohout factory. They used it for training new riders only.

After careful examination of the preserved Kohout bicycles, we came to the conclusion that this machine is from the first series of all-metal bicycles manufactured in Smichov. It is also the only known one whose front wheel is mounted in sliding bearings. The machine is without serial number and when we tell about it, so we say "Kohout serial number 0"

The exhibited bicycle is one of four oldest preserved numbered machine from Kohout’s factory. All the components bear the typical smithy characteristics from the early period of Kohout high-wheel bicycles. Renovation of the bicycle revealed the beauty of the old trade.

The most interesting part is the way the frame was made, the backbone of the bicycle. The round cross-section would logically suggest that the original material was round. However, things were actually very different. An iron strip with the length of the frame and a cross-section of approximately 20-25 x 10 millimetres is twisted in a spiral two or three times.The twisting is denser in the upper part, ensuring greater strength and a thicker diameter. The final shape of the frame was created by the smith’s hammer and this was so perfect that this procedure is certainly not visible on the painted frame. Minor unevenness was filled in with sealant prior to painting. The individual parts of the front fork are also joined only by black-smith work, even at places where we would expect a weld or soldering. The quality of the joins was tested by time. It was confirmed that the fork endured the pitfalls of the uneven roads.This cannot be said of the frame. This is reflected in the period repairs and the thickening of the frame at the site of connection to the flat part, which turns in the head.

The paint on the painted parts is new, but the metal parts that were only polished to the clean metal by the manufacturer have been similarly treated like when the bicycle was taken home by the new owner.

Today, we can see the value of the rougher means of production; for example the threads on the nipples remained completely undisturbed and enabled perfect centering of the wheels.Needle bearings are characterized by unusually long lives and consequently are used in many branches of industry to the present day. The Kohout bearings are a perfect example. They remained quite tight and undamaged and can continue to serve their purpose.

This fifty-four is quite capable of operation, similar to several other known Kohout bicycles with open heads whose owners still use them for the joy of riding.

The oldest known preserved Kohout with English Aeolus ball bearings has production number 103. This 56” high-wheel bicycle is exceptional in that the company used ball bearings only on a few bicycles at a later time. Thus, it is assumed that the early Kohout was made for a prominent rider. It was either for one of the younger Kohouts (they were tall boys) or possibly for Karel Schultz, who became the Czech consul for the English Bicycle Touring Club for the Czech lands in 1882. Rebuilt bicycle production number 404 has an appearance leading to a similar conclusion. It has a number of components that deviate from the concept of standard Smíchov bicycles.

The use of English Aeolus ball bearings is not, in itself, particularly unusual. They are present on a number of preserved Kohout bicycles for two reasons. The first is that there was no question of them making their own ball bearings in Smíchov because of the technological capabilities of their manufacturing plant. They purchased Aeolus products which had the advantage of easy adjustment of play. J. H. Hughes had them patented in 1877 and the patent was purchased from him by William Brown. This was a good business deal for Brown. With the exception of renowned manufacturers, which had bearings of their own patented design (e.g. BSA, Rudge, Coventry Machinists Co., Bayliss Thomas, etc.), Aeolus bearings were supplied to all of Europe. Hundreds of thousands of these bearings were manufactured.

The machine is after the latest renovation by Jan Rečo. The paint on the painted parts is new.

The whole of bicycle production number 523 has been preserved in exceptional condition. The polished components have a beautiful patina without any major corrosion. In addition to minor technical differences, the entire bicycle has a number of completely typical features of Kohout bicycles, such as the massive front hub with hollow screws for tightening the spokes and with nuts, the forged back fork with a unique shape at the site of connection to the frame, the shape of the handlebars and the front brake including its attachment. Altogether, it is a very well-made machine.

The famous success of Josef Kohout and the second place for his brother František in Vienna races in 1882 led to the name of the Kohout bicycles. From 1883, they were designated as the Champion Bicycle in all materials. This was a good commercial idea, where the success of riders was to promote sales of bicycles.

According to our estimates and in relation to the number of bicycles manufactured each year, bicycles with production number 200 and greater can be considered to be Champion Bicycles. It should be added that the bicycle with production number 650 is the lowest known example on which an oval brand name plate first appeared with a stamped cockerel (kohout = cockerel in Czech). The stamped text reads "Champion Bicycle, J. Kohout Smíchov". Simultaneously, this label is not on all subsequent known bicycles, but only on those with numbers 699, 707, 752, 764, 771, 833, 839, 864 and 872. We didn’t manage to link any reason why some bicycles have labels and some do not. The labels were attached to the head of the front fork. Global manufacturers only rarely placed labels on their machines. Thus, it is now frequently difficult to determine the manufacturer of a particular bicycle. Even collectors and globally renowned experts are frequently at a loss. There are exceptional moments when a group of experts from around the world stand confused over a bicycle. Each of them has a feel of the fork, backbone and handlebars, someone measures the axles and then they all shrug their shoulders. The most common defining features are the type of bearings, manner of attaching the handlebars, the fixing of the spokes in the wheels and then only intuition. None of this applies to Kohouts. With very few exceptions, all the bicycles are labeled “J. KOHOUT SMÍCHOV” on the backbone and some even have the mentioned label on the front fork.

The famous success of Josef Kohout and the second place for his brother František in Vienna races in 1882 led to the name of the Kohout bicycles -Champion Bicycle. This was a good commercial idea, where the success of riders was to promote sales of bicycles.

According to our estimates and in relation to the number of bicycles manufactured each year, bicycles with production number 200 and greater can be considered to be Champion Bicycles. It should be added that the bicycle with production number 650 is the lowest known example on which an oval brand name plate first appeared with a stamped cockerel (kohout = cockerel in Czech). The stamped text reads "Champion Bicycle, J. Kohout Smíchov". Simultaneously, this label is not on all subsequent known bicycles, but only on those with numbers 699, 707, 752, 764, 771, 833, 839, 864 and 872. We didn’t manage to link any reason why some bicycles have labels and some do not. The labels were attached to the head of the front fork.

With very few exceptions, all the bicycles are labeled “J. KOHOUT SMÍCHOV” on the backbone and some even have the mentioned label on the front fork.